Sepp Blatter to step down

[BUCKnation]

Yeah, Russia is fine, even if there were shady dealings behind the scenes. Qatar is in a whole different league when it comes to being unsuitable hosts.

[Baphomet]

Russia is far from fine, the only context in which they can be considered as such is in comparison to Qatar. If you cast your minds back to the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, there were hundreds of worker deaths related to the construction there too. Their human rights record is also incredibly appalling, particularly pertaining to issues such as freedom of expression, sexual orientation and gender identity. It's no place for the world game. It's true that they have a proper football infrastructure to actually host a satisfactory World Cup tournament, but I would much rather see it played elsewhere.

[cgf]

Russia is far from fine, the only context in which they can be considered as such is in comparison to Qatar. If you cast your minds back to the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014, there were hundreds of worker deaths related to the construction there too. Their human rights record is also incredibly appalling, particularly pertaining to issues such as freedom of expression, sexual orientation and gender identity. It's no place for the world game. It's true that they have a proper football infrastructure to actually host a satisfactory World Cup tournament, but I would rather see it played elsewhere.

Which puts Russia right in line with Brazil and South Africa...and maybe not even in the bottom half for most undemocratic and bigoted hosts.

[El Turco]

and america is responsible for more civilian deaths than any other country past 10 years, it is all about perception. you are going to find it hard to find a capable country that has their hands completely clean, and "we are a lesser piece of sh*t" is not exactly glowing case to take away the cup imo.

[Baphomet]

I don't disagree at all. I absolutely felt the same way about South Africa hosting the World Cup.

Russia may be reasonable hosts from a purely footballing perspective, but we should not accept it on account of there being equally bad or worse hosts in the past. Football and its governing bodies must be panoptic of surrounding issues to move forward.

In my opinion, both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups should be reallocated, particularly in light of the current revelations. I don't see it happening, but that's my hope.

[J-Mezzy]

2018 might be close, but 2022 is definitely doable. I'm down for England or U.S

[EArl]

NEW YORK -- Former FIFA executive committee member Chuck Blazer told a U.S. federal judge that he and others on the governing body's ruling panel agreed to receive bribes in the votes for the hosts of the 1998 and 2010 World Cups.

Prosecutors unsealed a 40-page transcript Wednesday of the hearing in U.S. District Court on Nov. 25, 2013, when Blazer pleaded guilty to racketeering and other charges.

Blazer, in admitting 10 counts of illegal conduct, told the court of his conduct surrounding the vote that made South Africa the first nation on that continent to host football's premier event

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/sto ... ing-bribes

[EArl]

http://www.espnfc.us/fifa-world-cup/sto ... ent-report

Looks like Blatter has been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

CAPE TOWN, South Africa -- A 2007 email shows FIFA President Sepp Blatter and then-South African President Thabo Mbeki held "discussions" over $10 million that ultimately went to allegedly corrupt football executives as payback for supporting the country's World Cup bid, a newspaper claimed Sunday.

South Africa's Sunday Times reported that the email from FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke to the South African government asks when the $10 million will be transferred.

The newspaper said that in the email, which was not published, Valcke wrote that the $10 million was "based on discussions between FIFA and the South African government, and also between our President [Blatter] and President Thabo Mbeki."

[magik9113]

I'm still waiting for the WC 2002 news to surface. Sure it sucks that the right to host the tournament has been bought and all that, but FIFA actually fixing the results of WC matches is even worse.

[Hero]

Sepp Blatter and Jack Warner are such villains. About time Blatter stepped down. What a mess FIFA has become.

[cgf]

FIFA hasn't become anything. This is what FIFA has always been. Long before blaster it was this way, and long after he leaves it'll remain. This is FIFA.

[EArl]

What a world we live in.

They must have something on him, and he knows it.

[tweet]https://twitter.com/LittleOzz/status/605778856595701760[/tweet]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXyWCQeLxrc#t=63[/youtube]

[EArl]

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji6pj2PX-Io[/youtube]

[Foye]

He already thinks about retiring from his not yet realized retirement.

Smh.